Culture and Tradition

Festival

Kherai Festival

The Kherai festival is a significant event in Bodo culture, celebrated to honor the deity Bathou. During this festival, prayers are offered for blessings and prosperity, and rituals are performed to seek protection from natural calamities. It's a time for community gatherings, cultural performances, and feasting, fostering unity and spiritual connection among the Bodo people.

Garja Festival

The Gajra festival is an annual event celebrated by the Bodo community to commemorate the victory of their ancestors over adversity. It symbolizes resilience, courage, and the spirit of triumph in the face of challenges. The festival involves rituals, cultural performances, and communal feasting, serving as a reminder of the Bodo people's strength and heritage.

Bwishagu

Bwishagu ( Domashi) is like the Bodo New Year. During this festival, people pray for a good year and celebrate with music, dance, and special food. It's a time for families to come together and enjoy each other's company.

Amtishuwa

Amtishuwa is a festival where people remember and honor their departed loved ones. They make offerings and prayers to show respect and love for their ancestors. It's a time for reflection and connecting with family traditions.

Dance

Bagurumba

Bagurumba, also known as “Butterfly Dance”, is a lively dance form celebrated by the Bodo tribe. It's performed at festivals and gatherings to express joy and unity. Accompanied by traditional music played on instruments like the Kham, Sifung, and Serja, dancers move gracefully, mimicking nature's beauty. They wear colorful traditional attire, enhancing the dance's visual appeal. Bagurumba symbolizes unity, harmony, and nature's beauty, reflecting the Bodo community's cultural identity.

Bardwisikhla

Bardwisikhla, another cherished dance form, showcases Bodo heritage. It portrays scenes from Bodo mythology and daily life, sharing stories of heroism and love. Dancers wear elaborate costumes and use props like swords to enhance storytelling. Through intricate choreography, they convey emotions and narratives. Audience participation, with clapping and singing, adds to the festive atmosphere and strengthens community bonds.

Song

Bagurumba

This lively song is performed during the Bwisagu festival, the Bodo New Year in April. It features a dance that mimics butterfly movements and nature.

Kherai

This song is tied to the Kherai Puja, a traditional Bodo festival with rituals to please the gods for a good harvest, health, and prosperity. The song is spiritual and ceremonial.

Daosri Dela

These are love songs expressing the romantic feelings of the Bodo people, often sung at social gatherings and festivals.

Haba

Narrative songs that tell stories, legends, and historical events important to the Bodo community, helping preserve their oral history and culture.

Siul Bizal

Work songs sung during daily activities like planting or harvesting crops, making the work more enjoyable and coordinated.

Phagla

Songs sung during the Phagla festival, marking the end of winter and the start of spring. These songs are joyful and celebrate the change of seasons and the hope for a good year ahead.